Singapore Matches
- 1st XI vs Singapore Hockey Federation U18s
- 2nd XI vs Singapore Cricket Club
Narrogin
- 1st XI vs Upper Great Southern U17s
- 2nd XI vs Upper Great Southern U15s
- 1st XI vs Narrogin High School Sports Academy 1st XI (boys)
- 2nd XI vs Narrogin High School Sports Academy 1st XI (girls)
Bathurst
- 1st XI vs Stanislaus College
- 2nd XI vs The Scots School
- 1st XI vs Kelso High School
MATCH OF THE TOUR
- 2nd XI vs Bathurst High School
- 1st XI vs Bathurst District U18
- 2nd XI vs Bathurst U16 Select XI
Sydney
- 1st XI vs Sydney Juniors U18 in Bankstown
- 2nd XI vs Sydney Juniors U15 in Bankstown
- 1st XI vs Sydney Juniors U18 in the Olympic Hockey Stadium at Homebush, Sydney
- 2nd XI vs Sydney Juniors U15 in the Olympic Hockey Stadium at Homebush, Sydney
MATCH OF THE TOUR
Cairns
- 1st XI vs Cairns Hockey Association U18
- 2nd XI vs Cairns Hockey Association Select XI
Overall
- 1st XI Statistics and Coach's Comments (Matthew Babb)
- 2nd XI Statistics and Coach's Comments (Martin Brough)

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Score: 2-5
Goals: Grimshaw (2)
Man of the Match: James Coutts

Sam’s notes:

• 0-1 Short corner, very scrappy.
• 0-2 Defence dissolved, one on one with goalie, easy finish.
• 0-3 Short corner, scrappy, little reverse flick.
• 1-3 Graham H held up the ball on the right and laid it off to Sam, who took on the last three and beat the goalie.
• 1-4 Short corner, switched left. Flicked shot deflected by defender’s stick into top left. Goalie had no chance.
• 2-4 Short corner won & retaken for early break. Straight strike into bottom right corner, sent goalie the wrong way. Graham injected, Bouch stopped (perfectly).
• 2-5 A bit of mare for the keeper; the striker topped the ball, leaving Henry stranded out of position.

• Coutts and Hetherington played all the game in 34°C heat and 90%+ humidity, and were outstanding in an under-strength defence.
• Drew had a great game in the first half.
• Dave Williams got crippled and then spent the rest of the game slating the umpires.
• Paul Currigan and Dan Humphrey ran around as if powered by Duracell
• The standard of the umpiring left a lot to be desired [edited from Sam’s original comment!].
• Sam’s ankle hurt
• Tom Slough and Tim Keyte both guested for the old boys and played very well
• Graham Bates somehow put an angled shot over the bar from very close range, then nearly scored a goal from the top of the D with a waist-high volleyed shot.
• Tom Bates substituted himself in frustration, and to calm down, after receiving a flurry of trips and stick tackles inside the 25.
• Babb was excellent in his new position as Head Coach and Director of Hockey, with special responsibility for water provision [thank you, Sam!].

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2nd XI vs Singapore Cricket Club: No disgrace from a 2:4 defeat in the heat!
Scorers: Dan Jones; Tasos Droulias.
Man of the Match: Adam Birtwistle

In humid conditions which we were scarcely used to, we got off to a good start in this match when a long ball from David Brough found Dan Jones and he rounded the final defender to score. Some good work by man-of-the-match Adam Birtwistle and Alex Willetts down the right nearly created another opening, but it was then only a brave - suicidal - block on the line by James Clapham which prevented us conceding the equaliser. A penalty was correctly awarded, but Rob Brown dived away to his left and saved the stroke. Just before half time a rare defensive lapse saw us back off too far against an advancing mid-fielder and he slipped the ball through to a waiting forward who deflected it past Rob from close range.

A second goal was conceded shortly after the restart, following a short corner. Our team were showing the effects of the heat and humidity, with a competition to see who could be substituted next to get a rest! Good work in defence by Dave Sheppard, Nick Travis and Tom Hickman steadied the ship and then one of the best moves of the game saw Mike Baddelely released through midfield. His pass set Adam Birtwistle free down the right and a long run at the heart of the defence ended with a neat pass to Tasos Droulias, who beat the home keeper to draw the scores level.

In the last third of the game we tired quite badly and despite the efforts of Jaspal Pahal and Robin Palmer to hold back waves of pressure, the defence was eventually broken down our right side and Rob Brown made a rare mistake, being beaten from a narrow angle on his near post. It was not too surprising that he had finally succombed to the heat after a fine display in the rest of the game. A fourth goal was conceded late on after our players made the mistake of stopping for an assumed foul by an opponent, only for the umpire to 'play on' and the left attacker to knock the ball home unopposed.

Though the result was a dissappointment, there were encouraging signs that a number of our younger players had not just come to 'make up the numbers'. All played their hearts out and worked for the team. The enthusiasm was clear and it augurs well for the rest of the tour.

- David Brough
(adapted by M.R.B.)

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Score: 4-0
Goals: Sam Grimshaw (3), Tom Bates (pen)
Man of the Match: James Hetherington

Sam’s notes:

• 1-0 Dave Williams provided cross, Graham Bates missed with wild swipe (or a well-judged dummy) but Sam swept ball into far corner.
• 2-0 Tom Bates through ball picked up by Sam who rounded the keeper and last defender and swept the ball into the goal with a reverse stick.
• 3-0 Bates-Grimshaw one-two on the 25 then after much ‘wobbling’ Bates finally got in a shot that was cleared off line by a foot. Tom Bates expertly dispatched the resulting flick into the bottom corner.
• 4-0 Graham Bates pacey run down right wing, cross met by Grimshaw, but saved. Tom Bates followed up with a flick that was half-stopped and Grimshaw volleyed home calmly.
• Radical change in formation with Tom Bates as the free man and Jaspal and Paul holding in midfield.
• Coutts unhappy with new formation as he had to actually mark for once.
• Dave Williams produced shrieks of pleasure from the (mostly female) crowd as he pulled off the only trick in his repertoire; a 270 degree spin on the right side.
• Passing was much improved since Singapore (the climate was more favourable) and we looked more like a team.
• Opposition were useful; Coutts, Hetherington and Currigan were solid in defence, doing well to keep a clean sheet.
• Short corners didn’t go as planned as Coutts and Williams failed to come to terms with the surface.

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Victory for the Young Guns in the West!
Scorers: Tasos Droulias (2)
Man of the match: Tasos Droulias

The second XI today played Upper Great Southern U15s and won a closely contested 2:1 victory.

Captained by David Brough, we got off to a good start and had much of the possession early in the first half. This paid off as Tasos Droulias broke the deadlock with a crafty reverse stick deflection off a fearsome Mike Baddeley cross.

The second goal was also scored by Tasos, mid-way into the second half. He went on one of his trade-mark long runs. As he beat player after player Dan Jones was screaming for the ball, unmarked on the top of the 'D'. Just as it looked as if Tasos was about to take on one player too many and the opportunity would be lost, he flicked the ball neatly into the side netting, beating the keeper.

Upper Great Southern managed to respond quickly with a goal from Owen Clarke but it was not enough to save them from defeat.

Other notable events were when Tim Keyte got hit in the mouth by a wayward shot and when Dan Jones was muscled to the ground by a 14 year old boy! He got up threatening revenge, but was calmed down by the umpire!

All in all it was a good performance in the absence of captain and mid field genius Tom Walker and we deserved our 2:1 victory.

- Alex Willetts
(adapted by M.R.B.)

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Score: 4-1
Goals: Tom Bates, Dan Humphrey, Sam Grimshaw, Graham Bates
Man of the Match: Paul ‘the beast’ Currigan

Sam's Notes:

• 0-1 Long corner, played short. Man was allowed to dribble in from left, cross (shot?) was deflected in on far post. Defensive lapse leading to first conceded goal in Aus.
• 1-1 Tom Bates dribble from top of D eluded all defenders and mis-hit flick beat goalie, going in at the far post.
• 2-1 Short corner, poorly controlled by Coutts. Eventually Tom Bates got a drag flick away, which going wide was skilfully deflected in on the right hand post by Dan Humphrey.
• 3-1 Opposition were being stretched. Persistent work by Paul Currigan on the half way line led to Sam Grimshaw being put through one on one with goalie. This was converted with a rifled shot to the far post.
• 4-1 A gem of a short corner routine. A perfectly worked “flick spot” routine provided Graham Bates with an inviting chance which he stylishly put away.

• As the younger side were facing a girls’ team, the opportunity was taken to strengthen the defence with the inclusion of Daves Brough and Shepherd alongside Coutts and Hetherington at the back.
• Hard fought first half saw controversy in the Solihull goal mouth. After a ball was blatantly lifted into the D, the ensuing scramble resulted in a goal. Their umpire gave the goal. However, a combination of MRB (the other umpire) and their captain (and Coutts’ ranting and stick abuse) reversed the decision.
• Just before our equaliser, and with Drew beaten, James Hetherington’s desperate last tackle stopped a certain goal. His bloodletting probably the turning point in the match. Once again their umpire was uncertain about what had happened and gave a flick. However, he himself overturned this and gave a sixteen instead.
• In the second half we stepped up a gear, playing the best hockey of the tour so far. Currigan, Bates and Williams working really hard and well together. The second goal was the key, Dan Humphrey’s finish right out of the top drawer.
• Coutts and Hetherington’s defence was superb repeatedly flat sticking there skilful players. Drew, who was injured, had very little to do in the second half despite at times some severe pressure on our 25.
• The flick spot short corner was a truly beautiful move and ended their resistance.
• Tom Slough faced up to their left back and Dave Williams jumped to his rescue from the sideline, draped in an England flag!!
• Tom Bates was targeted in the last five minutes and his stick was brutally assaulted each time he dribbled towards the D.
• Conclusion: the Aussies don’t like losing and when they know they are beaten get really p****d off.
• Fantastic performance from the team all round, one of the highest standard school matches I’ve ever played in.

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Young Guns just far too good for the High School Girls!
Scorers: Jones 5; Droulias; Birtwistle; Clapham.
Man of the Match: Dan Jones

Narrogin High School Sports Academy Girls 1st XI showed some good touches but lost to the strength and speed (!) of our lads 8-1.

The Narrogin Coach talked a good game in the local pub the night before, but the fact was that the girls just weren’t strong enough or quick enough to hold our lads and particularly failed to restrain the power of Dan Jones. It was good that the girls managed one goal, because that allowed them to claim that they had done better than the select XI the day before! Jamie Clapham also showed promise in a new position up front and scored a good goal. Main feature was that the ‘other’ XI were let loose with the digital camera and took any number of shots of the girl with the best legs, but failed to get any of the 9 goals on film!

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Score: 8-2
Goals: Sam Grimshaw (3), Graham Bates (2), Graham Handford (2),
Tom Bates
Man of the Match: Graham ‘Handman’ Handford

• Rubbish opposition.
• Our first half performance was very good, aided by some comically bad goal keeping.
• Sam Grimshaw scored a first half hat trick.
• A lacklustre second half; everyone conscious of hard afternoon game.
• Goals still came but the hockey was much less fluid.

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Victory in New South Wales!
Scorers : Droulias; Birtwistle; Baddeley; Jones.
Man of the Match: Mike Baddeley (probably!)

The Scots School played us at Bathurst, over the Blue Mountains from Sydney in New South Wales. The result was a very pleasing 4-1 victory.
The home side were up against it in this one, with Dan Jones amazingly left totally unmarked up front for virtually the whole game. But for a post or two they could have paid a heavier price than they did. Quite good going forward, they simply did not have the players or the organisation at the back to hold out a strong front line and midfield. Some very pleasing play from our lads, adapting well to both the pitch and one or two odd interpretations by the umpires.

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Score: 3-2
Goals: Sam Grimshaw (2), Graham Bates
Man of the Match: Tom Bates

Sam’s notes:

• A really tough match that remained goalless until well into the second half.
• The umpiring was very poor and noticeably one-sided.
• Repeated deliberate fouling on Batesy and delaying tactics on our free hits went unpunished. In addition to which, the cheat of an umpire foiled many of our good attacking moves by calling back the advantage to give a free hit for an earlier foul in our favour.
• Dave W had a strop during MPB’s [inspirational] half time talk.
  Despite being up against it we opened the scoring when Graham Handford pulled off an orgasmic dummy allowing Sam to beat goalie one on one.
• They then scored 2 short corners.
• With only ten minutes to go we scored the equaliser courtesy of the top-class short corner routine.
• Remaining time was tense with tempers fraying on and off the pitch.
• Victory was sealed in the dying minutes when Sam scored a straight strike, after Batesy cunningly bluffed the keeper by calling that it wasn’t on!
• Held on in the end to record the best, most satisfying and, sadly, last win of the tour.

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One of those games where you just take the points and retire to invent ways of making it sound like a better match!
Scorer: Tasos Droulias
Man of the Match: Dave Sheppard

Bathurst High School. Result 1-0. Tasos moved within a goal of Dan Jones and kept up his record of scoring in every game, in an encounter which showed that the lads were still pretty tired after the morning game and the previous day’s coach journey. Scrappy hockey, but the best was played by us, and we failed to convert a number of other chances. Strong defence by Dave Sheppard and Chris George gave the opposition few chances throughout. The result perhaps didn't do justice to the superiority we enjoyed.

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A sad day as we lose our first game in Aus.!
Scorers: Tom Walker, Tasos Droulias
Man of half of the match: Tom Walker (well it had to be really in his first game off his sick-bed!)

A morning game against Bathurst U16 Select XI resulted in a 2-3 loss.Tom Walker made a, so far, rare appearance on the pitch and ran in a super goal at the start of the second half to get us back into this game. We drew level at 2-2 with another goal from Tasos. We had been outplayed and were 2-0 down to some good hockey by the hosts after the first half. Our defence was also disorganised, but played far better in the second half. With the very last hit of the match, our opponents scored from a short corner to steal the game and take away our unbeaten record in Australia. Still, it was a good encounter and we had done well to deal with this 'select XI' in our 3rd game in 2 days!

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Score: 0-4
Man of the Match: Drew Sambridge
Sam’s notes:

• A quality opposition who showed us a thing or two.
• Our play was poor and the cumulative effect of five games in little over a week was evident. Players tired easily and motivation was lacking.
• The boasted the first really decent defence we had came up against in Australia, but once again we were unfairly treated by the umpires.
• They were the same as the previous day’s match but their decisions were, at times,even more blatantly biased. The opposition were allowed to kick the ball ( in the build-up to their 2nd goal) and even scored after the so-called umpire had blown her whistle for a short corner.
• We then had two goals disallowed for “third party obstruction” which she began to carefully explain to me. Ha!! Third party obstruction my arse!!! [opinions expressed are exclusively those of Mr. Grimshaw!]
• The umpiring left a dirty taste in both teams’ mouths but the opposition were clearly the better team and were deserving of a victory.

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Score: 2-3
Goals: Graham Handford, Sam Grimshaw
Man of the Match: Sam Grimshaw

Sam’s notes:

• The pitch was poor and, after playing exclusively on water-based astroturfs up to now, we found the sudden return to sand difficult to adjust to.
• Played well and fluidly in the first half, but failed to capitalise upon chance after chance. Graham Handford eventually swept in a Grimshaw cross for the first goal.
• The team collapsed after half time, things going from bad to worse as the team found itself 1-3 down before we had even got going.
• The shock rallied the side and we fought back admirably back with Sam netting the rebound from a Batesy drag flick at a corner.
• Despite a courageous effort, and some heavy domination towards the end of the match, the team couldn’t quite keep it going and the effects of a fourth game in three days showed in the lack of stamina on the pitch.
• It was a disappointing loss as the opposition weren’t a particularly good side.

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A strange turn around on the sand in Sydney!
Scorers: Walker 2, Droulias.
Man of the Match: Chris George

Today's game against Sydney Juniors in Sydney resulted in a 3-1 win.

A very strange match on quite an odd pitch. Our hosts were all over us early on and looked like running in more than the odd goal they did get. Then the balance changed completely with Adam Birtwistle impossible to contain down the right and our strike-force of Mike Baddeley, Tasos Droulias and Dan Jones running riot. Chris George, Dave Sheppard and Dave Brough supplied the ammunition from the back and pushed up against an ever-weakening Juniors attack line. Tom Walker showed a pleasing return of strength with 2 good goals.

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No real doubt that this was the game of the tour!
Scorers: Jones 2; Walker; Birtwistle; Baddeley
Man of the Match: Dave Brough

Today we played Sydney Juniors again, but in the Olympic Hockey Stadium at Homebush in Sydney. The result was an amazing 5-4 victory after we had seemed down and out at half time. It’s a strange old game! We were being totally outplayed in this one and were 4-1 down shortly after half time, having gone in at 0-3. We decided to change to a more attacking formation to give them less room in midfield and, after 10 minutes of getting used to it, gradually clawed our way back into a game we had ‘lost’. Dan Jones gave us a -seemeing - consolation goal just after haklf time, but the hosts went virtually straight up the other end and scored from a penalty. The hosts were still playing good hockey in attack, but probably became complacent. The lads charged around with terrific energy, epitomised by one 30 second patch where Dave Brough, having been involved in messing up a corner at one end, chased back and prevented a goal at the other end by blocking a goal-bound shot. The real fighting character of the side then showed through as Tom Walker reduced the deficit Dan Jones scored again, Adam Birtwistle brought us level and then, quite unbelievably, Mike Baddeley netted the winner with 90 seconds left on the clock. It had to be unquestionably the game of the tour!

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Score: 1-2
Goals: Graham Bates
Man of the Match: Dave Williams

Sam’s notes:

• We played well at the start but lost our way conceding two cheap goals in quick succession. Tom Bates’ push back, which went out for the long corner that led to the second, should not be mentioned!
• They were bolstered by a few new players and fared better on the quality Olympic water-based pitch.
• Their defence proved much harder to break down than in the previous match.
• We played well in the second half and managed to claw a goal back after some fine individual play by Graham Bates.
• However, due to pitch bookings, the second half was curtailed to a paltry 19 minutes 57 seconds. Despite a brave effort the side never really recovered from the demoralising effect of seeing this on the scoreboard at half time. We felt that it was a match we could win but, when we saw how little time we had to do it in, no-one really believed that it was possible. The loss of confidence was evident in the second half as emotions boiled over and frustrations showed.
• As in other close games goals, there were chances to score at the end but it wasn’t to be and we ultimately felt a bit hard done by.
• It was, however, a tough game that either side could have won and both teams played a lot better than in the previous fixture.

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Score: 2-7
Goals: Sam Grimshaw, Graham Bates
Man of the Match: Dan Humphrey

Sam's Notes:

• Played well for 25 minutes but were unable to sustain the standard after team changes were made [Oh right – blame the coach!] and we went into half time 4-1 down after again conceding quick, killer goals after about half an hour.
• Second half went from bad to worse and a weak ending to the tour resulted in them scoring several easy break away goals.
• They were a very good team though.

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We go down fighting in the final game of the tour.
Scorer: Dan Jones (2 pens)
Man of the Match: Dan Jones

After a few days off we played the Cairns Hockey Association Select XI at Cairns in northern Queensland. It showed that it was the end of a hard tour and that we had played no hockey for 3 days! The result was a 3-2 loss to a side who played really good hockey throughout the first half.

Very much a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Ball with this one. We’d had a good time with the R & R the previous day and were swamped by a good hockey playing side who moved the ball well and struck 3 good goals without reply. Once again, we mounted a second half revival and were rewarded by goals from 2 penalty strokes by Dan Jones, who again proved too much of a handful for the opposition to deal with. Our defence tightened up a lot and the midfield really got going. It was unfortunate that the ending of the match and of the tour was marred by a bad injury to Adam Birtwistle, who went to hospital for a precautionary ‘X’ ray on his ankle. arguably it had been the only way the opposition could stop him as we looked stronger and stronger with the game moving into injury time.

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Top Scorers:
13 Sam Grimshaw
6 Graham Bates
3 Tom Bates, Graham Handford
1 Dan Humphrey
0 Paul Currigan

Clean Sheets: 1

Most goals scored in a game: 8

Most goals conceded in a game: 7

Coach’s Comments:
“This tour has been a most enjoyable and successful venture and it has been a real pleasure to be a part of it. Overall the standard of our hockey was very good with some really excellent displays. It is worth noting that we beat every school side that we faced and that each of the sides that defeated us was a regional, or even national side. We gave many of these representative sides a good run for their money and they had to work hard to earn their wins.

However, the results and the performances on the pitch are only part of the story for a tour such as this. The places we have visited and the people we have met have given us memories that will last a lifetime. We have seen some amazing sights and taken part in some fantastic activities.

The most important aspect of any tour is the people who go on it. The tourists are the ones who make a tour. It is a testament to each and every one of you that the tour was so successful and so enjoyable. I feel privileged to have toured with such a good-natured and cooperative bunch. I am also immensely grateful to Martin Brough for inviting me to join this tour and to him & Lindsay for all the hard work that they put in. I hope that you have all enjoyed the tour as much as Annette and I have and I thank you for making it the experience that it was.”

Matthew Babb

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Top Scorers:
11 Dan Jones
8 Tasos Droulias
2 Michael Baddeley
3 Adam Birtwistle
4 Tom Walker
1 James Clapham

Clean Sheets: 1

Most goals scored in a game: 8

Most goals conceded in a game: 4

Coach's Comments:

"So that is the end of a great tour! It started from a belief that Hockey players at the school should have the same opportunity for overseas travel as Rugby players were already enjoying. It ended up serving a far greater purpose than merely ‘keeping up with the rugger boys’.

First and foremost, the players who went had a wonderful time, learning about Australia, its people and the game of Hockey. Additionally we experienced the very different culture of Singapore and the sight of the city lights at night. We saw at first hand the affluence and great hospitality of the famous Singapore Cricket Club, walked around Raffles and saw the Second World War batteries on Sentosa Island. We saw a city centre charging system in place and working long before it happened in London!

The Aussie way of doing things and their massive commitment to things sporting was soon clear in Narrogin, near Perth. When we beat them, however, we saw a graciousness in defeat and an eagerness to learn from it that is rare in Britain. They made no excuses, but happily criticised the physical tactics employed by some of their own players. They showed us what ‘bush’ looked like; that wild kangaroos could be seen as just a big pest; treated us to a meat-stacked barbecue; showed us lambing time problems caused by drought conditions. Some of us even had the chance to sample Aussie beer and wine! We left the area after an all too brief stay, elated at our 100% record from 4 fixtures. I'd particularly like to thank John Archer for arranging all of the billets for us and the Buzza family for putting up with the Broughs!

In Sydney, we narrowly missed the Rugby tourists as they flew home on the same day that we arrived. We viewed Darling Harbour at night, before crossing the Blue Mountains to Bathurst for our next fixtures. One young lad's lifetime dream was realised, stroking a Koala and petting a Kangaroo. In Bathurst we were softened up with 4 fixtures on our first day and lost the 2 on the second day to ‘Select XIs’, put together to make sure that we didn’t escape New South Wales with an unbeaten record! Again our hosts were most generous with their hospitality and took our lads out to see the local area. Graeme Hanger masterminded our stay and even got Adam Birtwistle, Mark Brough and even Tom Walker off his sick-bed to do a radio broadcast. Showing his deviousness, he even rang me up at his own house and put our phone conversation out live! Our thanks for all his work on our behalf.

The stay in Sydney itself was a highlight for many of us, with a walk across the Harbour Bridge, a visit to the Opera House and a half day on the beach. The first pair of games were played on an odd pitch which had seen better days. We shared the honours and went on to play on the Olympic Hockey stadium in our other pair of fixtures, having first looked around the main Homebush stadium. A great venue for another pair of shared fixtures, we celebrated with our hosts with a Chinese at the somewhat strange Casino Hotel where the staff were lodged. Our thanks to Michelle Locke, who arranged it all for us. There was even a 'master-class' for some of the lads with GB penalty corner specialist and Bankstown HC coach, Callum Giles.

The final leg of the trip was in Northern Queensland at Cairns. Whitewater rafting and a visit to an area of rain forest were capped by a journey out to the Great Barrier Reef and swimming or diving amongst the corals, with masses of fishes and the occasional sight of a turtle. After that, not even losing the final 2 fixtures to local ‘Select XIs’ could deflate us and we enjoyed a great last night party in the Hotel.

If it all just seems like a holiday, then that’s what a lot of it was! The hockey gave it all a binding central influence and the improvement made by players during the tour was remarkable. Some of the ‘lesser stars’ proved themselves again and again to be highly valuable members of the squad. They helped each other on and off the field. Changes were made between the two squads without any problems, because everyone tried their absolute best and there was a united determination ‘not to let the team down’. We learnt that the Aussies are very fit and quite fast, but not as tactically advanced as we would have expected. We learnt that the rules of the game can be interpreted differently down under. We saw the skill level of our own players get better and better as the series of games progressed.

Senior players were a great asset, but there was a mutual respect throughout the squad. In spite of being from 3 different year groups, they mixed freely with each other on and off the field. I think we felt that a number of them thoroughly ‘grew up’ in attitude as the tour progressed. They were generally popular wherever they went and were good ambassadors for the school. It was an experience worthy of repeating!

Our thanks to Edwin Doran Travel for all the organisation; to the many sponsors – especially major sponsor GB Scaffolding – for their most generous help; to all our host families in Australia for their wonderful hospitality. Thanks crucially to all the parents, without whose support with finance and fundraising, the tour would clearly have been impossible. Finally, thanks to all the tour members - both the 30 players, who made it the hockey success that it was, and Matthew and Annette for their enthusiasm, good company, excellent photographs and unfailing humour. One further personal credit must go to my son Mark, who took Matt's wonderful disc of photographs and laid them out for easy access on this final disc, as well as creating the Australia 2002 website.

When do we go again? That's easy, South Africa in 2004!

Martin Brough